Prescription drug importing, known as international sourcing, is when prescription medications are transported into one country from another. One of the main reasons prescription drug importing sparks patients’ interest is the potential for savings. However, the risks and challenges of drug importation could outweigh the potential benefits.
Potential Risks and Challenges
Manufacturing Standards in Each Country Can Vary
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not evaluate drugs purchased outside of the U.S. for safety or effectiveness. There may be changes to the ingredients, quality, or handling standards established by the FDA. According to the FDA, it is difficult to identify and stop the production of counterfeit drugs. Imported prescription drugs could contain dangerous substances as well as addictive substances.
The Lack of Medical Evaluation and Supervision
Imported prescription drugs could have unexpected or life-threatening side effects. Medical supervision is necessary to ensure the medication is appropriate for patients and their condition. The language barrier can also be dangerous. If the medication’s labeling is in a different language, instructions and possible side effects may not be clear.1
Pharmacy Impersonators
There has been an uptick of pharmacy impersonators. Impersonators disguise themselves as Canadian pharmacies and are looking to cash in on those considering international prescription drug sourcing.
Stop Loss Vendor Reimbursement
Considering the above risks, stop loss vendors may not reimburse for prescriptions outside of the U.S. Therefore, employers could face financial risks.
Savings May Not Be Significant
For patients, finding cheaper prescription medications online can happen from U.S. pharmacies and international pharmacies. In this dynamic market, these situations are drug specific, can be timing specific, and may not be the lowest cost for the payor, depending on discount and rebate dynamics. To date, we have not seen an international sourcing program add up to substantial savings for employers.
Prescription drug importation is not as straightforward as it sounds. Many risks must be addressed before it can be considered a viable solution. If you are considering prescription drug importation, please evaluate the potential pros and cons. For a recap of the potential risks of international prescription drug sourcing, please watch our short video.
Our expert team at National CooperativeRx can help review perceived savings, advise you, and identify a more viable solution for your pharmacy benefit needs. Please reach out to your National CooperativeRx contact for more information or contact us here.
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (n.d.). Imported Drugs Raise Safety Concerns. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/imported-drugs-raise-safety-concerns
